Interior Department Finds No Major Impact from Cape Wind Project
The Interior Department’s Minerals Management Service (MMS) has issued a draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) for the Cape Wind Energy Project and finds no major environmental impacts from the proposed project. The MMS is the lead federal permitting agency for the Cape Wind project, a 468-megawatt wind power plant proposed for Horseshoe Shoal, a shallow part of Nantucket Sound located about five miles from the shore of Massachusetts. Cape Wind Associates, LLC first filed a permit application for the plant with the Army Corps of Engineers in November 2001, but the Energy Policy Act of 2005 shifted the permitting authority to the MMS. The company plans to begin construction on the project in 2009 and start operating the plant in 2009.
The MMS filed the report with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Friday, January 11. The DEIS labels most impacts of the project as "negligible" or "minor," with only a handful of impacts rising to the level of "moderate," including visual impacts. The report lists the ways these impacts will be minimized, including the elimination of daytime lighting on the wind turbines and the use of only 57 warning lights at night.
The DEIS also found the Horseshoe Shoal site preferable to alternative sites that were studied and found that building the facility would be preferable to the likely alternative, a fossil-fuel power plant. The MMS will begin accepting comments on the DEIS on Friday, January 18, at which time a Notice of Availability for the DEIS will be published in the Federal Register. Written comments will be accepted through March 20, and the MMS will hold public hearings on the document at four locations in Massachusetts from March 10-13. See the press releases from Cape Wind Associates and the MMS, or go directly to the full DEIS (PDF 5.48 MB).
The MMS also issued a record of decision on its Offshore Alternative Energy and Alternative Use Program last week. The decision formally establishes the program and, according to MMS, "reinforces the agency’s intent" to finalize regulations for the offshore development of renewable energy, including both offshore wind power and ocean energy technologies. See the MMS press release and the record of decision (PDF 50 KB).
GM, Toyota, and Fisker to Launch Plug-In Hybrids by 2010
Domestic, foreign, and specialty automakers arrived at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit, Michigan, with plans to launch a commercial version of their plug-in hybrid concepts by 2010.
The Saturn division of General Motors Corporation (GM) is the latest to join the plug-in hybrid bandwagon and plans to be the first with a full-production product, as the company announced its intent to launch a plug-in version of the Saturn Vue Green Line SUV as early as 2010.
The Saturn Vue Green Line Plug-In Hybrid, which made its world debut at the auto show, combines a lithium-ion battery pack with GM’s dual-mode hybrid system. The vehicle’s battery pack can be recharged in four to five hours by plugging it into any standard 110-volt electrical outlet, and in early testing, the batteries allowed the vehicle to travel for more than 10 miles at low speeds using electric-only propulsion. GM has also suggested that its Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid may be released by 2010. See the GM press release.
Toyota Motor Corporation is taking a more conservative approach, with plans to sell plug-in hybrids only to fleet customers in the United States and elsewhere by 2010. Toyota does not say which vehicle will be available as a plug-in hybrid, though most industry observers expect it to be a new version of the Prius.
The vehicle will feature a lithium-ion battery pack, and Toyota is currently investigating the feasibility of mass production at a battery plant in central Japan, owned by Panasonic EV Energy Company, Limited, a joint venture of Toyota and the Matsushita Group. Toyota is also providing its plug-in hybrid prototypes for an executive shuttle service at the auto show. See the Toyota press releases on the 2010 plans and the current prototypes.
And last but not least, specialty automaker Fisker Automotive has unveiled the prototype of the car that Earl Hickey would drive: the Fisker Karma. Featuring a lithium-ion battery pack and a plug-in hybrid system developed by Quantum Technologies, the Fisker Karma is designed to travel up to 50 miles using only its electric drive.
The luxury sports sedan is currently slated to beat its competitors to market, with initial deliveries starting in late 2009. The vehicle will feature an all-aluminum body, with an optional solar roof. The Fisker Karma will have an annual production of only 15,000 cars, and unfortunately, most of us would need to win the lottery to afford it: the starting price for the vehicle is $80,000. See the Fisker Automotive Web site and press release (PDF 95 KB).
Chrysler Unveils Electric-Drive Concepts and Diesels in Detroit
Chrysler LLC brought a wide range of green vehicles to the Detroit Auto Show, including three concept vehicles that incorporate electric drive technologies. The Dodge ZEO concept-short for "Zero Emissions Operation"- is an all-electric sport wagon combining a 64-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack with a 200-kilowatt (268 horsepower) electric motor. The rear-wheel-drive vehicle accelerates to 60 miles per hour (mph) in less than six seconds and has a range of at least 250 miles.
The Chrysler ecoVoyager concept combines a similar battery pack and motor with a small hydrogen fuel cell to achieve a 300 mile range. The vehicle can travel about 40 miles on battery power alone and can accelerate to 60 mph in less than eight seconds.
And the Jeep Renegade concept, a plug-in hybrid, combines a lithium-ion battery pack with dual 200-kilowatt electric motors on each axle. The Jeep can travel 40 miles on battery power alone and can travel 400 miles with the help of its 1.5-liter, 3-cylinder clean diesel engine. The vehicle features a lightweight aluminum architecture. Chrysler intends to pursue these new drive concepts through ENVI, an in-house organization formed late last year with a focus on electric-drive vehicles and related technologies. See the press releases regarding ENVI, and specifically the Chrysler ecoVoyager, Dodge ZEO, and Jeep Renegade concepts.
Chrysler also announced that the all-new Dodge Ram 1500 pickup will be available as a hybrid in 2010. The Dodge Ram HEMI Hybrid will combine a two-mode hybrid system with a 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 engine. For the 2009 Dodge Ram, Chrysler is launching an improved version of its HEMI V-8 engine featuring variable valve timing and a four-cylinder mode with an expanded operating range. The result is more power and torque, along with a 4% increase in fuel economy.
Dodge has also announced that it will introduce a new Cummins turbodiesel engine for its light-duty pickup trucks after 2009. Compared to an equivalent gasoline engine, the new diesel engine will provide a dramatic increase in low-end torque, up to a 30% improvement in fuel efficiency, and a 20% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions. It will also meet 2010 emission standards in all 50 states. Dodge currently offers a 6.7-liter Cummins turbodiesel in its Ram Heavy Duty trucks, and that engine meets the 2010 emission standards. See the Chrysler press releases regarding the Dodge Ram HEMI Hybrid and the new HEMI and diesel engines.
The Detroit Auto Show, officially called the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), opens to the public on Saturday, January 19, and runs through Sunday, January 27. The NAIAS Web site features photos, videos, and press releases from the auto show. See the NAIAS Web site.
Ford Vehicles to Employ the Fuel-Saving "EcoBoost" Engine
Ford unveiled a new fuel-efficient gasoline engine at the Detroit Auto Show. Called the "EcoBoost," the new engine combines direct injection and turbocharging to achieve a 20% improvement in fuel economy, 15% lower carbon dioxide emissions, and superior driving performance. The engine injects gasoline directly into each cylinder, and because the fuel charge is cooler and denser than in current gasoline engines, its combustion is more efficient. Turbocharged direct injection is already used in a variety of diesel engines, but is harder to employ in a gasoline engine.
The new EcoBoost engine will first appear commercially in the Lincoln MKS Sedan in 2009, and within the next five years, it will be available in half a million vehicles carrying the Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury brands. The engine will be available in both four-cylinder and six-cylinder models. See the Ford press release and the EcoBoost Web page.
For now, though, the engine is featured in the Ford Explorer America and the Lincoln MKT concepts, which are both on display at the Detroit Auto Show. The conceptual reworking of the Ford Explorer SUV uses unibody construction (as opposed to a heavier truck frame), lightweight materials, and the smaller EcoBoost engine to cut its weight by 150 pounds, while a six-speed transmission and electric power assist steering helps the vehicle to achieve a fuel economy improvement of up to 30%, compared to today’s V-6 Explorer. The Lincoln MKT concept features a flex-fuel EcoBoost engine that is capable of running on E85, a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. See the Ford press releases for the Ford Explorer America and the Lincoln MKT concepts.
Ford’s Land Rover division also arrived at the auto show with a green concept vehicle: the Land Rover LRX hybrid concept. The vehicle combines a two-liter turbodiesel engine with an electric motor integrated into the vehicle’s rear axle. The motor would allow the vehicle to run under electric power up to 20 miles per hour, and would also provide additional torque when needed. In combination with other Land Rover technologies, the hybrid system is expected to cut fuel consumption by 30%, compared to similar-sized SUVs. See the Ford press release.
Detroit Goes Small with Ford Verve, Daimler Smart Car
Automakers continued an emphasis on smaller cars at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan. Ford Motor Company unveiled the Ford Verve concept vehicle, a four-door small car slated for production in 2010. Ford also displayed a three-door version of the Ford Verve, which was first introduced at last year’s Frankfurt Auto Show. According to Ford, small cars and crossovers are the only vehicle types with projected near-term growth in the United States. See the Ford press release and Verve Web page.
If Ford is right, Daimler has the jump on it, as the company is now selling its smart fortwo in the United States. The diminutive two-door car, also on display in Detroit, achieves 33 miles per gallon (mpg) in the city and 41 mpg on the highway under the new fuel economy regulations developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
According to Daimler, more than 30,000 Americans have placed a $99 deposit on the smart fortwo, which is available through 70 carefully selected dealerships located in major U.S. cities. The smart fortwo is available in three trim levels, with the least expensive starting at a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $11,590. See the smart USA Web site and Daimler’s smart press kit.
Fuel-Cell-Powered Cadillac Provoq Unveiled at Electronics Show
GM’s latest incarnation of its "E-Flex" propulsion system-the one initially designed for the Chevrolet Volt-is a fuel-cell-powered crossover vehicle carrying the Cadillac badge. The Cadillac Provoq concept vehicle was unveiled last week at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, and is also on display at the Detroit Auto Show.
The vehicle achieves a 300-mile range by packing two high-pressure hydrogen storage tanks beneath its rear cargo floor. It combines an 88-kilowatt fuel cell with a 60-kilowatt lithium-ion battery pack that can store up to 9 kilowatt-hours of electrical energy. It features a 70-kilowatt coaxial motor drive system for the front wheels and a 40-kilowatt motor in each of the rear wheel hubs, providing enough kick to boost the vehicle to 60 miles per hour in about 8.5 seconds. The vehicle has a top speed of 100 miles per hour.
Additional features built into the Cadillac Provoq include a solar panel integrated into its roof, brake-by-wire technology, and front grill louvers that close at highway speeds to enhance the vehicle’s aerodynamics. See the GM press release, and a selection of photos of the Cadillac Provoq.
Report: Electric Utilities Investing Billions in Transmission
The U.S. electric utility industry invested $6.9 billion in transmission projects in 2006, and members of the Edison Electric Institute (EEI) plan to invest another $38.1 billion from 2007 to 2010, according to a new EEI report. This represents a 60% increase above the amount invested from 2003 to 2006. EEI is the association of shareholder-owned U.S. electric companies and represents about 70% of the U.S. electric power industry. The EEI report notes that transmission lines are being added for a variety of reasons, and one is to connect remote renewable energy resources to the electrical grid.
The report specifically notes that EEI members are building the Tehachapi Renewable Transmission Project, which includes more than 250 miles of new and upgraded high-voltage transmission lines to support renewable generation development in California. They are also building the Southwest Minnesota Wind Expansion Project, which involves installing about 220 miles of new transmission lines and upgrading 300 miles of existing transmission lines to deliver more than 800 megawatts of wind resources to the electrical grid. The EEI report includes detailed descriptions of each transmission project. See the EEI press release and the full report.
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Kevin Eber is the Editor of EREE Network News, a weekly publication of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE).
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